Holster



Feb. 22, 1938. R, H, HOYT 2,109,232

HOLSTER Filed Nov. 18, .1935

Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to a holster for pistols, revolvers and the like and the particular construction herein disclosed is an improvement on the holster forming the subject matter of my co-pending application for U. S. Letters Patent led August 28th, 1933, Serial No. 687,131 now Patent No. 2,037,132, dated April 14, 1936.

The principal objects of my present invention are, to generally improve upon and simplify the luconstruction of the holster disclosed in my aforesaid co-pending patent application as well as other existing forms-of holsters, further, to provide simple and convenient means for supporting the holster from the shoulders of the wearer and further, to provide simple and convenient means for detachably securing the holster tothe wearers belt.

A further object of my invention is', to provide a holster having .springs imbedded in its walls in order to provide stays that render the walls of the holster more or less resilient and for the purpose of causing said walls to exert a certain degree of pressure upon the pistol or revolver carried in the holster so as to rmly hold same 2&5-` against casual displacement and at the same time permitting the pistol or revolver to be easily and quickly withdrawn from the holster without liability ofy hanging therein or catching upon any part of the apparel of the person wearing the holster.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of` construction and arrangements ofv parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a holster constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the same associated withshoulder supporting straps.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking against the outer face of the inner wall of the holster.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a holster and showing the same detached from the supporting straps.

Fig. 4 is atop plan view of the holster.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 'l is a horizontal section taken on the line 'I`-'Iv of Fig. 2.

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views of the springs that are imbedded in the walls of the 55.- holster for imparting resiliency thereto.

Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view of portionseof the straps that are utilized for supporting the holsters from the shoulders.

Fig. 11 is an elevational View ofa member that provides an adjustable connection between the wearers belt and one ofthe supporting straps on the opposite side of the body from the holster.

In the construction of my improved holster I employ two practically identical pieces of ilexible material, preferably leather that are positioned one immediately against the other andthe edges of these parts are united bya row or rows of stitching Ill.

The flat body thus formed of the two` pieces of material is folded double on a medial line, thus forming a two-ply outer wall. II and va two-ply inner wall l2.

The lower front portion of the outer wall I I is out away as designated by I3 so that the lower portionfof said outer wall is somewhat narrower than the corresponding portion of the inner wall and the lower ends of the outer and inner walls are permanently securedv to each other, preferably by a row or rows of stitching I4. l

In order that the holster may be detachablyA connected. to the belt of the wearer, the upper portion of a strap I5 is suitably secured, preferably by a row or rows of stitching, to the outer face of the intermediate portion of the inner wall I2, said strap extending downward and tapering in width toward its lower end.

The lower portion of this strap I5 is adapted to pass through a transversely disposed-slot I 6 that isfformed through the inner wall I2', and carried. by said lower portion of said strap is the socket member I'I of a snap fastener that is adapted to engage the complementary stud member I8 of the fastenerand which latter is seated in the connected lower portions of the walls II and I2 just below the cut away lower portion I3 of the outer wall I I.

Thus the strap I5, which functions as a belt receiving loop has its upper end permanently secured to the intermediate portion of the inner wall of the holster and the lower end of said strap is detachably secured on the lower portion of the outer wall of the holster.

The belt B, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, passes between strap I5 and the inner wall of the holster.

Formed through the upper portion of the inner wall I2 of the holster, are three vertically disposed slots I9, 20 and 2| and passing through said slots, is a horizontally disposed holster supporting member 22. This member extends from the inner face of the inner wall I2 through slot 2|, thence from the outer face of inner wall I2 through slot 29 and thence from the inner face of inner wall I2 outwardly through slot I9.

Thus one end of member 22 is positioned adjacent the inner face of inner wall I2 and the other end of said member is positioned adjacent the `outer face of said inner wall.

Where the holster is worn on the lefthand side of the wearers body, a strap 23 is secured to the front end of the holster supporting member 22 and extends upwardly Vin front of the left shoulder of the wearer, thence over said shoulder and said strap extends downward diagonally across the back of the wearer to a point just above the wearers belt on the righthand side of the body.

From this point the strap extends upwardly in front of the wearers body over the right shoulder and thence diagonally downward on the back of the body. y '4 The lower portion of this Ystrap passes through a slot 24 that is formed in the rear end of holster supporting member 22and the free end of said strap is engaged by a buckle 25 that is mounted on the strap a short distance from its end.

At the point where the straps cross on the back of the wearer, said straps pass through slots 26 that are formed in an adjusting plate 21 and by pulling said straps through the slots in ksaid adjusting plate, said straps may be arranged so as to kilt snugly and conveniently upon the wearers body and shoulders and the holster will be supported in convenient position on the side of the wearers body. n

Adjustably, mounted on that portion of the strap that is positioned just above the belt on the righthand side of the wearers body, vis aY member 28, the upper portion of which is provided with slots 29 thatreceive the strap 23V and secured to the lower portion of the member 28 on the inner face thereof, is a strap `3II that functions as a belt retainer or loop and the upper end of said strap extending through a slot in member 28 and being secured to the outer face thereof by a snap fastener 3| and its complementary socket.` l I Formed yin the upper portion of the outer wall II of the holster, is an opening 33 for the accommodation of the cylinder of the pistol or revolver that is carried in the holster.

That portionv of the inner. layer of materialv forming the inner Wall I2 of the holster directly opposite the opening I3 is cut away and the outer layer of material forming the inner wall I2 between the slots I9 and 20, is embossed or pressed outwardly as designated by 34 for the accommodation of the cylinder of the pistol.

Imbedded between the layers of material forming the walls of the holster and disposed above and to the sides of the opening 33 and the slots I9 and 20, is a double inverted U-shaped spring formed from a single piece of resilient wire (see Fig. 8).

The wire forming this spring is bent at or near its centerfto form a semi-circular yoke 35 and from the ends of said yoke the wire extends upwardly to form substantially parallel legsv 36 that are imbedded between the layers of material forming the body of the holster with one leg positioned adjacent and to the rear of slotl I9 and the other leg positioned adjacent and to the rear of opening 33.

between the layers of material forming the holster and lies within the curved portion that connects the walls II and I2 a short distance below the opening 33 and the lower end of slot I9.

From the upper end of the leg 36 that is imbedded in wall II, the wire forming the spring is bent to form a short curved portion 31 that extends toward the upper end of the other leg 36 and from said short bend 3l the wire is extended horizontally at right angles to the plane occupied by the legs 36 to form a leg 38 that is imbedded between the layers of material forming the wall II and this portion of the spring `occupies a position directly above opening 33.

From the end of the horizontal leg 38, the wire extends downward substantially parallel with the legs 36 to form a leg 39 that is imbedded between the layers of material forming the holster body and occupying a position directly in front of opening 33. 4 The upper portion of the leg 36 that is 'imbedded between the legs of the material forming the inner wall I2, is bent slightly toward the inwardly bent portion 31 of the opposite leg 36 as designated by 4I) 'and from said bent portion the wire is extended horizontally to form a leg 4I that is substantially parallel with leg v 38 and which is imbedded between the layers of material directly above the upper ends of slots I9 and 20.

The intermediate portion of this horizontal leg 4I is bent slightly outward as designated by 42,

in order to conforml to the shape of the upper portion of the embossed or outwardly pressed portion 34 of wall I2 and to conform to the embossed portion 34 that accommodates the cylinder of the pistol.

From the end of horizontal leg 4I, the wires exltend vertically downward to form a leg 43 that occupies a position substantially parallel with leg 39 and this leg 43 is embedded between the layers of material forming the body of the holster and occupies a position between slots 20 and 2|.

The normal tension of the spring just described tends to cause the upper portions of the holster walls to move toward each other so as to hug or exert a certain degree of pressure on the pistol that is positioned in the holster, thereby holding the pistol firmly within the holder until it is withdrawn as a result of manual engagement. v

To assist the spring just described in causing the walls of the holster to exert yielding pressure upon the carried pistol, a. substantially L-shaped spring as illustrated in Fig. 9, is imbedded be-` tween the layers of material forming the upper portion of wall I2. This spring'is formed of resilient wire and comprises a horizontal leg 44` that occupies a position just below the lower ends of slots I9, 20 and 2I and the vertical leg 45 of said spring occupies a position between slot 2I and the upper portion of the front edge of wall I2.

'Ihe upper end of leg 45 is curved rearwardly as designated by 46 in order toy conform to the curvature of the upper front corner of wall I2`.

When the holster is used as a hip holster as distinguished from a shoulder supported holster,

the upper portion of the L-shaped spring pre-rk Vents the upper portion of the inner wall of the holster from bending and causes the butt of the gun to lay more closely to the body of the wearer.v

When used as a hip holster the wearers vbelt passes through the slots I9, 29 and 2|.

The normal tendency of the spring just described is to exert pressure against the upper front portion of wall I2 through which member upper front portion of the outer Wall Il.

l When my improved holster is applied to the wearers body, the straps 23 pass over the shoulders yof the wearer with portions of said straps crossed on the wearers back'and at the crossing point said straps pass through the adjusting" member 21. y The holster occupies a position on the lefthand side of the wearers body at or near the waistline thereof and if it is desired to connect the holster to the wearers belt, the latter is inserted between the strap I5 and the inner wall of the holster, which strap functions as a readily releasable keeper and permits the holster to be readily adjusted forwardly or rearwardly upon the belt.

On the righthand side of the wearers body the supporting strap is adjustably connected to member 28 and the latter has sliding engagement with the wearers belt.

The buckle 25 carried by the end of the strap that is connected to member 22 provides for adjustment of said strap so that the holster may be adjusted to a convenient position on the wearers body.

The pistol or revolver is positioned in the holster with one side of the cylinder projecting through opening 33 and the opposite side of the cylinder occup-ying the recessed portion 34 of the inner wall I2.

The provision of the cylinder receiving opening 33 and the removal of the inner layer of material forming the inner wall l2 between the slots I9 and 20, materially reduces the thickness of the holster so that it does not project an undue distance outwardly from the wearers body.

As hereinbefore described, the springs that are imbedded between the layers of material forming the holster normally exert pressure on said walls to cause the same to hug the pistol or revolver so that the latter is firmly held within the holster so that it cannot be accidentally displaced.

Further, the pistol is rmly held in the holster due to the fact that on one side the cylinder projects through opening 33 in the outer` wall and on the other side the cylinder rests in the depression 34 formed in the inner wall.

To withdraw the pistol, the butt is manually engaged and pulled forwardly and downwardly and the force exerted by this pull is sufficient to spread the upper front corners of the walls of the holster apart, thereby permitting the gun to be easily and quickly withdrawn.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a holster that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

The supporting or carrying means for the holster may be readily adjusted so that the holster is conveniently and comfortably retained in proper position upon the wearers body and the construction of the holster is such that the inserted pistol or revolver is firmly held therein and said pistol may be easily and quickly Withdrawn Without liability of hanging therein or catching upon any part of the apparel of the person wearing the holster.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form, and construction of the various parts of my improved holster may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described Without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

l claim( asmy invention: Y y

' l.' A holster composed of flexible material Ybenty double to formv inner and outer walls, the upper", portion of the inner wall being provided with a" plurality of vertically disposed slots for the re ception of a supporting member, an'inverted'll-l shaped springimbedded in the upper portlonl'of each wall of said holster and the lower endsjof the members forming one pair of the 'vertical legs'vof said springs being connected to one any-I' other.

2. A holster composed of flexible material bent double to form inner and outer walls, the upper portion of the inner wall being provided with a plurality of vertically disposed slots for the reception of a supporting member, there being an opening formed through the upper portion of the outer wall of the holster for the reception of the cylinder of the inserted pistol, an inverted U- shaped spring imbedded in the upper portion of each wall of said holster the lower ends of the members forming one pair of the Vertical legs of said springs being connected to one another, and the horizontal portion of the spring that is embedded in the outer wall of the holster being disposed above the cylinder-receiving opening therein.

3. A holster composed of flexible material bent double to form inner and outer walls, the upper portion of the inner wall being provided with a plurality of vertically disposed slots for the reception of a supporting member, there being an opening formed through the upper portion of the outer wall of the holster for the reception of the cylinder of the inserted pistol, an inverted U- shaped spring imbedded in the upper portion of each wall of said holster, a substantially L- shaped spring imbedded in the upper portion of the inner wall of said holster, with the horizontal leg of said L-shaped spring disposed below the vertical slots in said inner wall and the vertical leg of said L-shaped spring being disposed adjacent the upper portion of the front edge of said inner wall.

4. A holster composed of flexible material bent double to form inner and outer walls, the upper portion of the inner wall being provided with a plurality of vertically disposed slots for the reception of a supporting member, the upper portion. of the outer wall being provided with an opening for the accommodation of the cylinder of an inserted pistol and an inverted U-shaped spring imbedded in each wall of said holster with the vertical portions of said springs positioned adjacent the slots in the inner wall of the holster and with the horizontal portion of one of said springs disposed above the opening in the outer wall thereof and the horizontal portion of the other spring being disposed above the ends of the slots in the inner wall.

5. A holster having inner and outer walls, the upper portion of the inner wall being provided with a plurality of vertically disposed slots for the reception of a supporting member, the upper portion of the outer wall being provided with an opening for the accommodation of the cylinder of an inserted pistol, an inverted U-shaped spring imbedded in each wall of said holster with the vertical portions of said springs positioned adjacent the slots in the inner wall of the holster and with the horizontal portion of one of said springs positioned above the opening in the outer wall thereof, the horizontal portion of the other spring being positioned above the upper ends of the slots in the inner wall, and a substantially L- shaped spring imbedded in the inner wall'of the holster with the horizontal leg of said L-shaped spring positioned below the vertical slots in said innerwall `and the vertical leg of said L-shaped spring being disposed adjacent the inner portion front edge of theouter wall being notched so as to expose the opening in the inner wall, a belt retaining strap `applied to the outer face of the inner wall, the upper end of which strap is permanently secured to said inner wall, the lower end of which strap extends through the opening in the lower portion of the inner Wall of the holster, and means for securing the free end of said strap to the lower portion of the outer wall of the holster below the notch in said outer wall.

RICHARD H. HoY'r.y 

